Gene That Increases Risk of Binge-drinking Discovered

Binge drinking among the youngsters is a cause of concern and recent research seems to tell us just who could be prone to it. A new study has caused scientists to firmly think that some people possess a gene which predisposes them to binge drinking. The gene, RASGRF-2, causes the levels of a happy brain chemical triggered by alcohol to go up, making the person crave for more of alcohol. During tests conducted on animals, researchers from The King’s College in London discovered that the presence of this gene in animals increased the risk of alcohol intake. A study conducted among 663 teenage boys that underwent a scan, showed that those who were scanned were found to have a version of the gene showing a heightened pleasure response in tests. When the same boys were contacted two years later, they found that those with the RASGRF-2 gene happened to consume alcohol more frequently. Researchers are of the opinion that people with a genetic variation of the gene have a tendency to consume alcohol, and the spirit does enable a more potent feeling of reward that can increase their vulnerability to heavy drinking. Source-Medindia